Keeper of Our Time

by Maren Stowman (guest writer)

Beep-beep-beep.  Ding-dong.  Ding-dong.  Come-come-come.  Several timers in the bakery call at once.  When this happens, Elsa, “the keeper of the time,” has to sort them all out. 

“Beep-beep-beep.”  One timer reminders her to start the mixer after giving the dough its autolyse  (rest) . 

“Ding-dong.  Ding-dong.”  A crusty loaf needs a thermometer probe to determine if it is baked to perfection.

“Come, come, come, come.”  Another oven reminds us that it is ready to be emptied of its contents.  Time plays a vital role in our bakery.

This year as we have baked, we have marveled at God’s perfect timing.

Summer 2009: We replaced the windows on our house.  Meanwhile our bakery operation was cramping our bustling home.  Four windows came the wrong size.  An idea grew.  Why not add on a bakery?

Summer 2010: We got a late start building after asking an architect relative for advice and starting the plans all over.  Due to that set-back, we love how every inch of our work-space has turned out!

2011: Bakery completed!  This was just in time for…

§  Our source for organic, unbleached flour fell through…  This meant taking a day trip across North Dakota for flour from another mill.  To make the trip worthwhile, we had to get lots.  We had the space to store it all which we wouldn’t have had a year ago!

§  Health required we get more help.  Again we had the space for extra people!

§  Two friends came to work for us each bearing their own story of God’s perfect timing.  Yay!

§  We had dreamed of whole wheat products being our nitch, and when the time was ripe, it took off—this year!  We have the space to store our wheat berries, too, and the grinder can blow flour all over the bakery.  J

§  Our aunt’s Alzihmers worsens, and she requires a quiet, orderly home.  This year with the bakery addition this need is provided for.

§  Dad has a new workshop below our bakery. He has been using it to build us more travel and display racks.  Each new piece has been crafted on the very weeks we have needed to fill them with bread and pack more into our market stand.

And so…  amid the activity and noise of our timer-filled bakery, we have constant reminders that our heavenly Father is lovingly caring for us.  We echo the Psalmists words to the Lord, “My times are in your hands” (Psalm 31:15).  God’s actions are not dictated by demanding timers.  Rather He is the creator of time and the great Timer Himself.

Beep-beep-beep-beep.  Back to work we go praising our Heavenly Father, who is the true “Keeper of the Time.”